Irish cabinet to take up abortion report amid protests

London: The Irish cabinet will take up a report of an expert group on abortion tomorrow as thousands of people in Ireland protest the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar, the Indian dentist.

Irish Health Minister James Reilly has said he will be bringing the report of the expert group to the Cabinet on Tuesday.

31-year-old Savita Halappanavar died in an Irish hospital last month after doctors refused to terminate her pregnancy despite telling her that she was miscarrying.

She died of blood poisoning after spending three days in pain and agony.

Speaking to Ireland's National Television and Radio Broadcaster RTE News yesterday, Reilly extended his sympathies to Halappanavar's family and said they would have input into the terms of reference for the inquiry into her death.

"I have read the report and I need to study it further. It's a hugely complex issue that has divided the country... and we're not going to solve it in a matter of weeks," he said.

It would be a "derogation of duty" not to deal with the issue, he said, adding that every woman had a right to have legal clarity regarding the treatment available to her.

In his view, it could be early 2013 before a clear Government position is made. Reilly's comments came a day after thousands of people attended candlelit vigils in Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Carlow and London to demand the government legislate on abortion following the death of Savita.

The Dublin march was headed by a giant banner stating "Never Again", adorned with images of 31-year-old Savita.

Organisers of the Dublin march said about 20,000 people had turned out, but a Garda (Irish police) spokeswoman said they estimated the figure to be between 10,000 and 12,000.

"Twenty years is far too long; ignoring women's rights is wrong," was bellowed from a megaphone at the front of the procession as loud cries of 'Never Again' filled the air.

"The anger extends beyond Ireland," organiser Sinead Kennedy of the Irish Choice Network told the crowd as they huddled in the rain at the beginning of the march.

"For more than 20 years we have seen political cowardice and inaction on this issue. The theme of this march is 'Never Again'. Never again will a woman be allowed to die," she said.

Earlier, members of the Indian community in Galway held another ceremony outside University Hospital Galway, where they lay white roses under a photograph of Halappanavar.

Yesterday Gardai said they are assisting the Coroner in relation to Halappanavar's death. A Garda spokesman said this was "standard procedure in the case of a sudden death".